Europe cold snap: River shipping halted, death toll 61

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Officials suspended shipping along Europe's second-longest waterway on Tuesday as a polar spell gripped a large swathe of the continent, causing hardship especially among migrants, the homeless and the elderly. The deep freeze has caused at least 61 deaths since it began last week, a third of those in Poland.

Romanian police halted shipping at midday for an undetermined period along a 900-kilometer (565-mile) stretch of the Danube River, which crosses Romania. Croatian and Serbian authorities also stopped river traffic on the Danube.

In Serbia, shipping was banned on the River Sava because of icy conditions, which claimed another two lives in southern Serbia.

Romanian gendarmes clear the snow outside a school as temperatures dropped below minus 20 degrees Centigrade ( minus 4 Fahrenheit) in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Romania's Energy Minister Toma Petcu said neighboring Bulgaria had urgently asked for extra electricity, but the request was declined since the cold weather has stretched Romania's power grid and natural gas consumption in Romania could reach an all-time high due to the frigid temperatures. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Authorities said an 88-year-old man and his son, 64, died from freezing temperatures in the village of Duga Poljana, in the south, which has been hardest-hit by the recent cold spell. Serbian state TV reported the two victims, discovered by a man delivering bread from a neighboring village, were extremely poor.

Three people have been found dead in the past three days in Macedonia as temperatures plunged to -20 C (-4 F). One 68-year old homeless man was found frozen to death in the capital, Skopje, while a 60-year-old man died in front of his home in the southern town in Strumica. An 80-year-old woman was discovered in her home in eastern Macedonia.

Authorities urged homeless people to go to shelters and local schools, which are taking them in during the cold spell.

In Albania, it snowed in the southern city of Saranda for the first time in 32 years. A homeless Albanian man was found dead in the southeastern city of Korca, the fifth person to die in the frigid weather.

In central town of Bulqize, temperatures plummeted to -22 C (-7.6 F), with most rural areas cut off by snow. There were temporary power and water outages. Army helicopters were distributing aid in remote mountain areas.

Following strong criticism from aid agencies and others, authorities on the Greek island of Lesbos said they would move 250 refugees from tents at camps into vacant hotel rooms as heavy snow continued unabated around the country.

The government also said it was sending a Greek Navy ship to Lesbos, to serve as a floating shelter for residents of a snow-bound camp.

"We denounce the inhuman living conditions refugees on Lesbos are facing," an association of public hospital doctors said "They are living in mud and snow, cramped together in unsuitable tents ... and lighting fires inside them to stay warm."

Elsewhere, snow canceled several flights in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, while a state of emergency was declared in several parts of the country.

Snow dusted the ancient Acropolis in Athens and closed most schools in the capital, while more than 10 heated shelters were opened for homeless people. An Athens municipal employee was placed under disciplinary review for allegedly telling occupants to leave a shelter because his shift had ended and nobody was available to take his place.

One person died and more than 10 were injured in Istanbul after a mosque canopy collapsed because of high winds and snowfall. It happened during a funeral service near Istanbul's main airport. Bulent Kerimoglu, a district mayor, told reporters ambulances rushed the injured to nearby hospitals.

Several Serbian municipalities have declared emergency measures to battle the extreme weather and dozens of villages in the south have been cut off by high snowdrifts.

In Romania, Bucharest Mayor Gabriela Firea on Tuesday ordered schools in the capital to remain closed for the rest of the week as the country battled the bitter cold which has led to travel delays, power outages and a surge in demand for natural gas and power.

Farther north in Poland where 20 people have died since the cold spell started last week, alarming smog levels led authorities to close schools and kindergartens for two days in the southern city of Rybnik to protect children from noxious fumes, and offer free public transport to try and improve air quality.

Poland's capital, Warsaw, offered free public transport on Monday, and the situation improved, although residents complained of coughing and irritated noses and eyes. Smog alarm levels were exceeded in Rybnik, Czestochowa, Katowice and another low-lying industrial region.

The smog mainly emanates from substandard fuels, such as coal mud, waste and plastic, burned in poor quality heaters in private homes, air monitoring expert Barbara Toczko told The Associated Press. She said authorities should help residents acquire heaters which use clean fuel and have low-level emissions.

She said that traffic fumes and industrial smoke also contribute to the air quality, but to a lesser extent as they have to meet European standards.

Poland's Government Center for Security said six people died Monday because of the cold.

A man pushes a car from the snow after his driver lost control, in Malakasa about 29 kilometers (24 miles) north of Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed schools in the capital, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A woman walks through steam from an underground ventilation, as temperatures dropped below minus 20 degrees Centigrade ( minus 4 Fahrenheit) in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Romania's Energy Minister Toma Petcu said neighboring Bulgaria had urgently asked for extra electricity, but the request was declined since the cold weather has stretched Romania's power grid and natural gas consumption in Romania could reach an all-time high due to the frigid temperatures. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A migrant rests in a public garage in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A train passes from a snow-covered train station in Malakasa about 29 kilometers (24 miles) north of Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed schools in the capital, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Afghan refugee children play at the refugee camp of Oinofyta about 58 kilometers (36 miles) north of Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. The European Commission said conditions for refugees on islands and other camps where they are housed in tents despite severe cold weather, is "untenable." (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Laundry of Syrian refugees is covered with snow while hung on a fence at the refugee camp of Ritsona about 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. The European Commission said conditions for refugees on islands and other camps where they are housed in tents despite severe cold weather, is "untenable." (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrian refugees walk at the refugee camp of Ritsona about 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. The European Commission said conditions for refugees on islands and other camps where they are housed in tents despite severe cold weather, is "untenable." (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Afghan refugee children build a snowman at the refugee camp of Oinofyta about 58 kilometers (36 miles) north of Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. The European Commission said conditions for refugees on islands and other camps where they are housed in tents despite severe cold weather, is "untenable." (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Ducks struggle to keep their balance on the frozen waters of the Idroscalo artificial lake, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Heavy snow and frigid temperatures have gripped large parts of Europe, leading to dozens of deaths, freezing rivers, the grounding of planes and traffic accidents. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Syrian refugee children look at puppies hiding under their shelter, at the refugee camp of Ritsona about 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. The European Commission said conditions for refugees on islands and other camps where they are housed in tents despite severe cold weather, is "untenable." (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Hundreds of migrants are sleeping rough in parks and make-shift shelters in the Serbian capital in freezing temperatures waiting for a chance to move forward toward the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People walk at the seafront of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed hundreds of schools in Greece, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

People walk at the seafront of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed hundreds of schools in Greece, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

A man rides a bicycle at the seafront of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed hundreds of schools in Greece, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

A woman walks through steam from an underground ventilation, as temperatures dropped below minus 20 degrees Centigrade ( minus 4 Fahrenheit) in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Romania's Energy Minister Toma Petcu said neighboring Bulgaria had urgently asked for extra electricity, but the request was declined since the cold weather has stretched Romania's power grid and natural gas consumption in Romania could reach an all-time high due to the frigid temperatures. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

People walk at the seafront of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed hundreds of schools in the country, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

The Parthenon temple is seen atop of the snow-covered Acropolis hill in Athens, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Snow closed schools in the capital, as added pressure on the government to speed up winter preparations for thousands of refugees living in camps around the country. (Antonis Nikolopoulos/Eurokinissi via AP)

Romanian gendarmes clear the snow outside a school as temperatures dropped below minus 20 degrees Centigrade ( minus 4 Fahrenheit) in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Romania's Energy Minister Toma Petcu said neighboring Bulgaria had urgently asked for extra electricity, but the request was declined since the cold weather has stretched Romania's power grid and natural gas consumption in Romania could reach an all-time high due to the frigid temperatures. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)